Electric lamp

ABSTRACT

An improved electric lamp assembly is provided which is particularly suited for outdoor use as an outdoor lantern. The electric lamp has a unique configuration, being composed in one embodiment of transverse members forming the top and bottom for the lamp and four side posts extending between the top and bottom, with translucent plastic panels mounted in the side posts. At least one of the plastic panels is slidable in the side posts to an open position so as to permit access to the interior of the lamp assembly for inserting and replacing an electric light bulb within the assembly.

[151 3,678,264 51 July 18,1972

[ 1 ELECTRIC LAMP [72] Inventor: Jon F. Myhre, 3500 Anette Street, Los

Angeles, Calif. 90065 [22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 89,545

Burton... ..240/1 1.2 R Moore... ....240/46.3l X Wagnen. ....240/46.3l X

Taylor ..240/25 Primary Examiner--Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-E. M. Bero Attorney-Jessup & Beecher [57] ABSTRACT An improved electric lamp assembly is provided which is particularly suited for outdoor use as an outdoor lantern. The electric lamp has a unique configuration, being composed in one embodiment of transverse members forming the top and bottom for the lamp and four side posts extending between the top and bottom, with translucent plastic panels mounted in the side posts. At least one of the plastic panels is slidable in the side posts to an open position so as to permit access to the interior of the lamp assembly for inserting and replacing an electric light bulb within the assembly.

5 Claim, 3 Drawing figures ELECTRIC LAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The electric lamp assembly constituting the present invention is intended primarily to be used for decorative external illumination, and especially in gardens and around private homes. For that purpose, the embodiment of the invention to be described is equipped with elongated pointed mounted blades, which permits the lamp conveniently and easily to be supported within the ground. However, it will become apparent as the description proceeds that the mounting blades may be omitted in some embodiments, and other appropriate mounting means may be used, so that the lamp may, for example, be mounted on the side of a building, suspended from a ceiling, embedded in concrete, and so on.

The lamp of the invention has a rugged and sturdy construction, and is particularly well suited for its intended purpose. The lamp may be put in operation, merely by driving its mounting blades into the soil, or by mounting the lamp in other appropriateways and by other appropriate means, and by connecting an internal light bulb to an appropriate electrical outlet. As mentioned above, one or more of the side panels of the lamp assembly is slidable in theside posts, so that it can be moved up to an open position, to permit the electric light bulb to be replaced as it becomes worn out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a lamp constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG'. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a further section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EM BODIM ENT With reference now to the drawing, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a first pair of transverse members and 12 which constitute the top of the lamp structure; and a second pair of transverse members 14 and 16 which constitute the bottom. Four side posts 18, 20, 22 and 24 are secured to the transverse members and extend therebetween in mutually spaced and parallel relationship. The lamp structure may be held in an assembled condition by pegs 30, or by other appropriate fasteners. An electric light socket 40 is supported in the transverse member 14, and a light bulb 42 is received in the socket. The socket and light bulb may be connected to an appropriate electrical energizing source by an appropriate electric cord, such as the cord 44.

Four separate light transmissive panels 50, 52, 54 and 56 are supported in slots in the respective side posts 18, 20, 22 and 24 to constitute side panels for the lamp. The side panels also extend down into slots in the transverse members l4, 16, forming the bottom of the structure, and up into slots in the transverse members 10 and 12 forming the top. The side panels may be formed, for example, of an appropriate translucent plastic material, and the side panels 52 and 56 may have louver screens 60 and 62 mounted in front of them, as shown, if so desired.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the plastic panel 54, for example, may be slidable in the posts 18 and 20, and movable upwardly further into the slot in the top member 10 to an open position, so as to permit insertion or replacement of he light bulb 42. As also illustrated, a pair of elongated pointed mounting blades 70 may be mounted to opposite sides of the transverse member 16. These mounting blades extend downwardly from the structure and constitute a convenient means for permitting the lamp assembly to be supported in the soil. The posts 18, 20, 22 and 24 and the top and bottom transverse members 10, 12 and 14, 16 may be composed of wood, or any other suitable material.

The invention provides, therefore, a unique construction for a lamp which is rugged, easy to mount in the ground, and which can be produced on a relatively inexpensive basis. As

mentioned above, other embodiments may be provided with other appropriate mounting means. Also equivalent structures may be provided with means equivalent to the side posts for supporting the sliding panel.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that while particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, modifications may be made. It is intended to cover all such modifications in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric lamp assembly including: a top for said lamp assembly formed of a first pair of transversely mounted post members intersecting to form a cross; a bottom for said lamp formed of a second pair of transversely mounted post members intersecting to form a cross; four slotted post side members extending between said top and said bottom and secured thereto in mutually spaced and parallel relationship at the intersections of said transversely mounted post members so that said transversely mounted post members project beyond said four post side members and said four post side members project beyond said transversely mounted post members; at least one light-transmissive panel mounted in the slots in a corresponding pair of said post side members and extending therebetween to form a side panel for said lamp assembly, and at least one panel slidably supported in the slots in corresponding ones of said post side members, corresponding ones of said first and second pairs of transversely mounted post members having slots of sufficient depth to pennit said one panel to be slid upwardly to an open position to permit access to the interior of said lamp assembly.

2. The electric lamp assembly defined in claim 1, and which includes four light-transmissive panels mounted on respective pairs of said post members and extending therebetween as side panels for said lamp.

3. The electric lamp assembly defined in claim 2, in which said panels are composed of translucent plastic material.

4. The electric lamp assembly defined in claim 3, in which two of said panels are louvered.

5. The electric lamp assembly defined in claim 1, and which includes at least one elongated pointed member extending from said bottom to permit the structure to be supported within the ground. 

1. An electric lamp assembly including: a top for said lamp assembly formed of a first pair of transversely mounted post members intersecting to form a cross; a bottom for said lamp formed of a second pair of transversely mounted post members intersecting to form a cross; four slotted post side members extending between said top and said bottom and secured thereto in mutually spaced and parallel relationship at the intersections of said transversely mounted post members so that said transversely mounted post members project beyond said four post side members and said four post side members project beyond said transversely mounted post members; at least one light-transmissive panel mounted in the slots in a corresponding pair of said post side members and extending therebetween to form a side panel for said lamp assembly, and at least one panel slidably supported in the slots in corresponding ones of said post side members, corresponding ones of said first and second pairs of transversely mounted post members having slots of sufficient depth to permit said one panel to be slid upwardly to an open position to permit access to the interior of said lamp assembly.
 2. The electric lamp assembly defined in claim 1, and which includes four light-transmissive panels mounted on respective pairs of said post members and extending therebetween as side panels for said lamp.
 3. The electric lamp assembly defined in claim 2, in which said panels are composed of translucent plastic material.
 4. The electric lamp assembly defined in claim 3, in which two of said panels are louvered.
 5. The electric lamp assembly defined in claim 1, and which includes at least one elongated pointed member extending from said bottom to permit the structure to be supported within the ground. 